Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-08-13

foot, mostly negroes, followed the pro-
cession to the outskirts OF the city, and
some OF them went down to the county
courthouse. Nothing OF interest oc-
Cured during the trip. The prisoner
appeared weak and talked but little,
and then only to protest his innocence.
The drive was made slowly, and the
Sheriff and party arrived at the county
jail about IL o'clock, where a crowd OF
about 500 people were in waiting, anx-
ious to get sight Of the condemned
man.
HIS WOUNDS BLEED AFREsH.
When Puryear was removed from the
carriage it was discovered that the
bandage had slipped from his wounded
arm and that blood was flowing from the
wound very freely. He was immedi-
ately taken into the Jail, where the
bandages were renewed by Drs. Row
land end Stephenson, both of whom ex-
pressed the opinion that the execution
should take place as soon as possible,
as the prisoner might die on the
Sheriff's hands. Puryear at this time
was very weak and suffering q great
deal from nausea and vomiting. After
being washed and attended to he asked
that he might be left alone for few
minutes with his spiritual adviser, Rev.
Mr.. Rosebro, to whom he wished to
make a statement in reference to his
attempted suicide this morning. This
was granted, and he made the follow
ing statement:
A STATEMENT TO HIS FAMILY.
To my Mother, Father and Sister:
AS serious as my condition was, it
would not have been as bad as it now
is had j not been betrayed by friend
who, at the last moment, betrayed me
and gave away my plans and communi-
Gated them to other parties, causing
them to treat me unkindly. Therefore
l could not do as / expected. i ex-
pccted to have been ont OF Jail Wednes-
day or Thursday night, but did not
succeed, and therefore it caused me,
under the impulse of the moment, be-
ing in so much trouble, to do rash
act, for which | was afterwards sorry.
But being in so much trouble and dis
appointment from not being liberated
as 1 expected, / attempted my own life
this morning Immediately after the
shacklcs were taken from me, with al
most fatal results. Thereupon my OPP
pearance and condition are very dis
agreeable to look upon. 1t was a few
minutes after o'clock A. NJ. on
Friday, August 10Th, that the deed was
done (and not at 6 o'clock as some have
thought) with knifc-bladc given me
by colored boy last October, and III
no way duplicates anybody visiting me
of late. This ] make and affirm as the
truth, and nothing but the truth, so
help me God. Ii. X. PURYEAB.
THE DEATH-wARRANT.
At 40 o'clock, in his cell, Sheriff
Youngblood read the deathwsrrant to
Puryesr. after which his cont was put
on him by Officers Berry and Perkin-
son with greau difficulty. The Sheriff
then said "Mr. Puryear, it is now
time for you to prepare to meet your
fate" 10 this Puryearmade no reply.
Supported 10y three of the guards he
was taken from the cell to the foot OF
the scalold to chair provided for
him.
THE sCAFFOLD
was erected in front OF and close to the
iail and was concealed from outside
view by a fence eighteen feet high.
The scaffold was eight feet long, six
feet wide, fourteen feet from the ground
to the cross-beam, and seven feet from
the cross-beam TO the trap-door. The
trap was double door, held up 10y a
cross-bar operated by a double lever,
each door having spike catching on
the side beams. These dimensions
were arranged to give drop OF seven
feet. There We're nine steps leading to
the galows platform, and up these, at
] 80 o'clock, still seated in his chair,
Puryear was lifted by the guards. His
legs were tied at the ankles and knees
10y Sheriff Youngblood.
HIS LAST STATEMENT.
Being asked if he had anything tC
say, Puryear replied that he had. Ht
spoke from his chair in very low,
weak voice that could with difficulty bC
heard. He said Gentlemen, look
upon the prisoner on this platform SC
soon to be executed. was married IL
January, 1885. In February my wife
gave birth to a child, and three day'
later I gave notice of suit for q dl
vorcs because of her infdelity. Twice
she attempted to commit suicide, anc
once | took q knife from her with
which she begged piteously to end her
life. The poison which she took wa'
put in the glass 10y herself or some one
else. This ! do know-thst it was not
put there by me. / had intended tC
make clear statement, showing why
va. so maliciously prosecuted, but an
not able to do so. 1t was done througl
the falsehoods OF witnesses.
A few further rambling remarks were
made when he stopped and told th'
Sheriff, after pause, that he had no
thing more to say.
he REQUESTS A HYMN.
A touching, earnest, and Impressive
prayer, commencing the soul of th'
condemned to divine mercy, was Offered
by Rev. Mr.. Rosebro. The prisone
then requested that the hymn "Jesus
Lover of Ny Soul" be sung, but NJ
one present could raise the tune. Pur
wears arms were then pinioned, and n
2:l5 the rope was adjusted and tn
black cap drawn, Puryear still sittint
in the chair.
THE DEATH-D DROP.
He was then raised to his feet b.
three men and placed upon the trap
apparently unable to stand upright. A
soon as he was made to straighten hi M
self Sheriff Youngblood gave the sig
nal by throwing his hat III the air, an
ut 2:l6 the trigger was sprung b.
Deputy-Sherif j. A. Young. Tn
doors fell, and Puryear shot downward
with the swiftness of an arrow. ii
made no struggle; there was only
slight muscular quivering and hsavinl
| of the chest, and all was still. 1t /
thought that he tainted at the momen
| of the fall His heart had ceased t
beat and life was pronounced eItlnct 3
$50.
THE BODY CUT DOWN.
| IT,, ,o,rrtao lat4r fba bodv was .cu